Friday, July 30, 2010

For Keeps?



1, 2, 3

To keep or to trash?

That is my current question regarding my wedding dress. Since the moment I put on my dress and knew it was "the one" I have been thinking about trashing it. Just the thought of jumping into an ocean or running through a field in my lovely gown makes me so excited. Keith has agreed to join me, and we'll have the session photographed. I didn't have a bridal session before the wedding, so I'm hoping by trashing the dress I'll get some beautiful photographs!

BUT, lately I've been rethinking things a little. Do I really want to ruin my wedding dress? Won't I want to show my children what I wore and maybe even have my daughter wear it for her big day? (Do people even do this anymore?)

If I do decide to trash it, I'd like to do it at Folly Beach near Morris Island Lighthouse


Or at Chimney Rock Park in North Carolina


What do you guys think? Has anyone ever trashed their dress, and if so, do you regret it? Are you totally pleased with your decision? Helllllp... :o)

Thursday, July 29, 2010

My ABC's

I found this survey here and couldn't resist!

A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on: 70 degrees at night, 75 degrees during the day. My hubs is always hot, and I'm pretty much always cold. Lol.

B- My BEDROOM theme is: Non-existent. We've been trying to decorate the living room and downstairs areas before our bedroom.

C- The CAR in the driveway is: KC's white Ford F150 Truck (I think that's the model) and my little blue baby Yaris

D- My DESK looks: like a mess. My editing equipment takes up the majority, and my school books take up the other half.

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: 7:40 AM...usually.

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: my face. I have really sensitive, easily irritated skin so I make sure my face is clean before I begin anything else.

G- My GARAGE is filled with: unpacked boxes from my apartment, tools, paint cans, and a grill that we can't seem to get working.

H- My HOUSE is: progressively becoming our home.

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bedroom you'd see: a huge wedding picture that I stuck on Keith's nightstand. (It belongs on a dresser or a mantle, but for now this will do)

J- My favorite JUICE is: Apple Juice

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: the counter space!

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: my brother & sister in law, Stephen and Ivey.

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: a movie from Netflix.

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: rude? I'm really not sure what they think...we don't really talk.

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: veggies, cheese, sandwich meat, porkchops (for tonight's dinner) jello...

P- My last house PARTY was: a few weeks back when Keith had his small group guys over. I guess that would be considered a house party.

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: Campbell's Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and mashed potatoes.

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: a tie between the study and the man cave. The view in the man cave is amazing, but the study just feels cozy.

S- The SHAMPOO brand I use: depends on my mood. It varies between Dove, John Freida, and whatever else smells good. :o)

T- My largest TELEVISION is: in the living room.

U- UNDER my bed you will find: nada.

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: last weekend when I set up Keith's Birthday surprise!

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: the backyard, and depending on what level I'm on I can see the water.

X- I wish I had X-TRA: time. There are so many things that I would love to do...just can't seem to find the time.

Y- My YARD is: a work in progress. I'd love to have a fence, a flower bed, and a hammock one day.

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: usually midnight on weekdays, and who knows on weekends!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Wordless Wednesday



Bridal Prep - Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

I just finished this bridal prep for my sister-in-law, Ivey! I love this song and really like the way this came out.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Baby

Happy Birthday Keith Joseph!


Today is my amazing husband's 25th birthday! Keith, I hope you have a wonderful day. You are such a blessing to me and I am so happy that I get to share my life with you.

I made this video for his last birthday.

Baby, I hope you know how much you're loved by
all of your friends and family.


Thursday, July 22, 2010

Product Review - One a Day Vitamins

via

One A Day Women's Active Mind and Body

**I usually don't post reviews on products, especially ones that I dislike, but I want to share my thoughts to help prevent anyone from going through what I went through yesterday. **

On my lunch break I stopped by Walgreens to pick-up a few items. I have been trying to be more healthy lately and I figured adding a multivitamin to my diet would be a great addition. After Walgreens, I ate a sub for lunch and then decided to try the vitamin.

As I was heading back to work I began to feel really sick...almost like I had the flu. My mouth started watering like crazy and I felt like I was going to vomit. (Keep in mind that I am still driving, and was freaking out!) I began to gag, but kept drinking water to fight the urge. I obviously did not want to puke all over myself and my steering wheel.

I made it back to work (Praise God!) and starting feeling worse. I was dizzy, nauseous, and had the worst body aches. After looking up the reviews on this product I discovered that I was not the only one with these kinds of side effects. Most women said they had the same exact experience, while others raved about how great the vitamin was.

I don't know what this vitamin has in it to make me feel so bad, but I was sick all night and am only just now starting to feel better. I will never, ever take this again. I've actually heard that multi-vitamins aren't good for you and that taking a dose of vitamin A, C, B5, etc. works the best. Anyone know anything about this? Has anyone taken this particular multivitamin?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wordless Wednesday




Happy Wednesday guys! Instead of a having a picture for today, I wanted to share a recent cinematic "after ceremony" that I filmed in downtown Charleston. Visit the Charleston Videographer tab for more information! :o)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Top Two Tuesday



This week: Top 2 things you want to purchase

1. A Manual Treadmill - I've been thinking about getting back into my running grove, but between the heat and my paranoia about crazy people harming me makes me pretty discouraged. So, a treadmill would be a great addition to my little spare "me" bedroom! I can start running again without going outside or joining a gym, and this baby is manual so it won't be super loud.

2. Plane Tickets - I have always wanted to pack a bag, head to the airport, and book a flight when we get there! It doesn't have to be a far away destination, but the spontaneity of it all would be awesome! Keith and I have so much fun together and this sort of adventure would be just perfect! (So babe, you game? Hehehe)

Monday, July 19, 2010

Better or Bitter?

Do you ever wonder how different certain situations would be if only your response would've been better? I think about this a lot. One of my biggest struggles is my reaction to the negative/frustrating/ unfair things that come my way.

It may sound a bit ridiculous, but it's true. I can sometimes be too passionate about things, and instead of being a sane Christian woman I sometimes respond with an abundance of anger, annoyance, and frustration.

Well, Mr. Rick Warren has done it again. The email devotional I received from his ministry yesterday struck a major chord. You see, the title was "Influential Thoughts" and the focus scripture was "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Proverbs 4:23)

It went a little something like this:

My interpretation influences my situation -
It's not what happens to me that matters as much as how I choose to see it. The way I react will determine whether the circumstance makes me better or bitter. I can view everything as an obstacle or an opportunity for growth - a stumbling block or a stepping stone.

My beliefs influence my behavior -
We always act according to our beliefs, even when those ideas are false. For instance, as a child, if you believed a shadow in your bedroom at night was a monster, your body reacted in fear (adrenaline and jitters) even though it wasn't true. That's why it's so important to make sure you are operating on true information! Your convictions about yourself, about life, and about God influence your conduct.

My self-talk influences my self-esteem -
We constantly talk to ourselves. Do you run yourself down with your self-talk? Stop doing that: "As he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV).

Wow.

I've known for a long time that my reactions and responses are not the best, and in fact they quite often make matters worse. Yet I continue to allow the worst of me to come out. The part that really stood out the most was "The way I react will determine whether the circumstance makes me better or bitter. I can view everything as an obstacle or an opportunity for growth - a stumbling block or a stepping stone."

Am I better or bitter after my response? It's that simple. My hubby is seriously one of the best "better" people that I know. He could be flicked off while driving, elbowed in the face, or yelled at by a stranger and he always responds in a Christ-like manner. To be honest It's kind of annoying because I wish I could be like this, (love you baby!) but I am so proud of him. I'm also jealous of his ability to always make situations better and not worse. He is always saying "What comes out when you're squeezed? If you fill yourself up with The Word, that is what will come out."

Not Lindsey, but God. When I am squeezed I need Him to consume my words. When I get frustrated and angry I need to take a breathe and try to make the situation better.

I am so thankful that I received this devotional. Life and death is in the power of the tongue and I definitely choose to speak life. I pray that this devotional helps those of you who struggle with this just like I do. It truly helped me remember that I do have control over my thoughts and words, and I don't want to be the "bitter" gal anymore. Let us be slow to speak and choose our thoughts and words carefully.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Getting to Know You Sunday #1


Getting to know YOU


1. If you had to choose a country to live in besides USA (or the country you live in), which would it be? If I had to choose, I would love to live in Italy. Ever since I was little I've always been fascinated by the people, food, music, etc. and would love to immerse myself in their culture.

2. Which would be worse, wearing flip flops in the snow or wearing gloves in the summer? Flip flops in the snow, definitely. At the beginning of this year when it snowed in Charleston I wore jeans and sneakers. After falling a few times my jeans were soaked and my legs were burning! I can't imagine wearing flip flops!

3. Fried or Bake and why? Even though I am trying to be healthier, I definitely choose fried! You can take the girl out of Louisiana, but you can't take the Louisiana out of the girl! :o)
4. If you were an entertainment reporter, which celeb would you love to interview and why? I would love to interview Sandra Bullock. She seems like a genuinely kind person, and I really love the work she has done on and off the screen. Such a classy lady!

5. What was your favorite book as a preteen/teenager? I loved the American Girl Series - Molly, The Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High!
6. List your top 3 guilty pleasure television shows. Cake Boss, Chuck, and One Tree Hill (KC and I are watching Season 5 right now with crazy Nanny Carrie. He he.)

7. What bumper sticker slogan best describes you/your attitude/your life?
Be patient, God isn't finished with me yet.

8. If you were to join a circus - what performer would you be? I'd like to think I'd be an acrobat. :o)

Friday, July 16, 2010

TGIF




Happy Friday lovelies!!

This song always puts me in a happy-go-lucky-nothing-can-bring-me-down-Jesus-is-amazing kinda mood, and I hope it has the same effect on you!!

Have a great weekend, and stay safe!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Take One

via

For the past two weeks I have been walking around with an LSAT practice test in my purse. (Can we say loser?) Everyday I'd vow to take this test, and last night it finally happened. Before I share about my test taking experience, I think I need to confess...I am really scared.

Terrified even.

I've read that taking this practice test to begin my studying is a great way to track my progress of learning, as well as to show my current strengths and weakness. However, by taking this test and doing poorly, I feared that I would feel worthless and too stupid for law school. One of my favorite LSAT Blog's said it best:

"We’ve seen our students turn a first practice exam into a measure of self worth or, equally disturbing, believe it to provide a range past which their score cannot increase." via

Doesn't that sound intense??

Over the past few days I have been thinking and praying about taking this practice test, and the one verse that keeps popping up in my head is this:

God has not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:2 NKJV


Whew. Thank God for His love and comfort. Whenever thoughts of worry and fear come into my mind I plan to take control and declare "Thanks for stopping by, but you are really not welcome." Easier said than done, but I have to remember this.

Last night I jumped into the practice test and almost drowned. At one point I felt like it'd be a miracle if I even got one question right. Well, I did get way more than one right, but my score was nowhere near where it needs to be. However, I do feel tons better after finally tackling my first practice test. I know what areas I need to study and what to expect.

I feel a bit overwhelmed and a part of me thinks that this is going to be way too hard. BUT, in the words of Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great" Now, I know he's talking about baseball, but still. This is one of my faves and I agree with him, and I'm in this for the long haul.


*PS*
I'd like to thank the lovely Sarah for my new blog design! She's fabulous and I love my new blog!! Check out her blog here and her blog design site here.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Giveway from May...

I have recently discovered that I never held my drawing for the CommonThreadz giveaway that I posted about in May! My Pe-Paw passed away a few days after I posted about the giveaway and I never followed up! I am so sorry! Pretty please forgive me? :o)

There were 29 entries total, and I am happy to announce that the winner is:

Cara at The Marvelous Flight of Cara!

via

**Cara please contact me at lindseychristmas@yahoo.com and let me know which item (up to $38) you would like and your shipping information.**

Thank you to everyone who entered!
I am planning on hosting another giveaway once I reach 100 followers! :o)

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A note for my sweet

Last night I decided to look through our wedding pictures and figure out which ones I want to print and frame. Keith and I have been married a little over 4 months and I really do feel like I should have done this weeks ago. Oops. :o)

While looking at these pictures I became totally consumed by the love I feel for my wonderful husband. My childhood was a bit rough, which made for trust and abandonment issues. Even though I was not very nice to him at first, Keith did not give up. He did what he could to break my wall down and earn my trust. I am so glad that he did not give up on me.

Since the beginning of our relationship I have repeatedly thanked God for him. I never thought I would meet someone that would make me feel so safe and completely loved. I never thought that I would meet someone who could be silly and have random dance parties in the kitchen. I never thought I'd meet someone who would truly put my needs before his own and lead me closer to the Lord.

Well, I did. His name is Keith Joseph Christmas and he is my amazing husband.

Keith,

Thank you for being silly with me. You make me smile. so. much.


Thank you for dancing with me...whether it's on our wedding day or in our kitchen, I love it.


Thank you for making me feel safe and for showing me God's love on a daily basis.


Thank you for taking jumping pictures with me, no matter how annoying it gets.

Thank you for unexpected surprises. They mean more than you know.

And last but not least, thanks for making me the happiest girl in the world.
I love you.

Friday, July 9, 2010

So what are you waiting for?

Last summer I wrote about the impact that a particular song had on me. This song picked me up when I was down, encouraged me to never give up on the dreams that God has given me, and inspired me to just be the Christian I know that God wants me to be. It's crazy, but almost a year later this same song still lights a fire in me. It's called "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole.

From last year's post: There are so many people that I want to share His love with, but whenever the time comes I feel like I'm just a baby Christian and don't have the right to do so. Well, whenever I hear this song I get brave. I feel empowered. I feel like God is gently picking me up, brushing me off, and saying "You can do it, Linds."



Well this summer a new song by the wonderful Britt Nicole is touching me in the same way. It's called "Walk on Water".



Thank you, Britt Nicole for writing and singing these amazing songs. They are truly a blessing.

Have a great weekend lovelies!!

**The videos may take a few seconds to load, so if they keep stopping while your watching, pause them for a minute so they can load. :o) **

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

wordless wednesday

source

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

more than a profession, it's a calling

source

A few weeks ago I stumbled across an article on my school's website. It explained how a few students were spending their summer as international interns working on human rights issues. One girl named Joanna is in Cambodia working at Transitions Global. TG "empowers survivors of sex trafficking with the opportunity to heal and recapture the most basic of human rights: freedom and hope." Joanna is a law student working on the legal protocols at TG. Not only this, but she's getting to know the girls who have been rescued.

After reading the article the wheels in my head were spinning so fast. My first thought was "What the heck is a law student doing helping trafficking victims?" The image I have always had in my head of lawyers are the accident injury kind that you see on TV. The ones that look sleazy and resemble scum. The thought of lawyers helping people took me by surprise. (Please forgive me if I sound a bit dense...my view has obviously changed.)

It's amazing what God uses to open doors and plant desires. Since reading about Joanna's internship I feel like He has shown me the direction I need to go. I'm a Criminal Justice major with a passion for helping people, and a seriously low tolerance for injustice. Anytime I have a complaint, Keith is always encouraging me to do something about it. Stop complaining about the problem and try to fix it. (Hence my major) Since a certain desire was first planted, Keith and I have been praying for guidance. Regent Law School's motto is "Law is more than a profession, it's a calling." And I couldn't agree more.

I am happy to share with you guys that I am going to law school. :o)

I know it's not going to be easy, and I'm okay with that. It'll be a long road to even get to law school, but you have to start somewhere, right? I graduate next December with my bachelor's and will apply to law school for the fall of 2012. I've begun studying for the LSAT that I'll be taking in February and again in June if necessary. I've also started reading a book called "Redeeming Law" which focuses on your Christian calling and the legal profession. I plan on immersing myself in LSAT prep as well as reading about how to be a Christian lawyer and not just a lawyer who is Christian. I have no clue which type of law I want to focus on or where I'd like to attend, but God always takes care of these things.

Oh how I love being the King's daughter! :o)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

the 4th

Happy Independence Day!

I hope all of you lovelies had a wonderful day. For me, today was bittersweet. I spent time with my husband, sister and nephew and we had quite the lazy day. We would have liked to head out to a ballgame or even to The Battery to watch the firework show. However, Lauren needed to pack...because she is moving back to Louisiana.

Last week she told Keith and I that she was lonely in SC and she just wanted to go back home. This took us completely by surprise. We tried everything we could to talk to her and really find out what was going on. We failed at that, and she told us that there was nothing we could do to change her mind.

They left us 2 hours ago.

It's hard to think that we won't get to watch Joseph grow up, or play with him, or rock him to sleep. The next time we will seem him is for Christmas. While we know everything happens for a reason, we feel like Lauren made the wrong decision.

On a positive note, I think Keith and I will really benefit from being alone in our home. Lau and Joe moved in only 1 month after we were married so we never really got to be true newlyweds. We loved having them here, but we also are looking forward to the alone time we will get to have.

Here are some pictures of this weekend of my sis and sweet baby Joe. Please pray that they will have a safe trip back to Louisiana and that God will open the right doors for them in LA.

*Me rocking Joseph*

*Lau and Joe at the beach*

*KC and Jo Jo...hahah*

*Our last group picture*

Friday, July 2, 2010

nawlins

My trip to New Orleans was very different from my past experiences there. In the past, I was there to explore the city and have a great time. I could listen to street corner musicians, shop in the market, and spend as much time as I wanted with my friends and family. This time, I was there on business. Most of my time was spent at a conference and in my hotel room.

I got there at about noon last Sunday and was able to meet up with a few family members. We ate at a semi-decent restaurant (such a disappointment!) and went to Cafe du Monde and had some yummy beignets and listened to a tuba player. It was so wonderful.


On Tuesday I met up with two of my good friends from Mandeville, Chrissy and Penny. (Hiiii Chrissy!) Chrissy's hubby Chris came also, and we had a great time at an awesome restaurant, Copeland's! I had the most amazing Crawfish Ravioli. And when I say amazing, I am not exaggerating! I also had a slice of Strawberry Cheesecake. :o) Can we say fat overload? Absolutely, but it was worth it.


On Wednesday my co-worker, Amanda, and I were at the conference during one of our breaks. During our breaks we usually stayed at the booth or would go sit outside in the vendor area of the hotel. I decided to stop at the restroom and would meet Amanda outside after. Well, let me just say that I reeeeally wish I would have gone with her, because when I finally did show up I was told that I had just missed President Bush. (AKA, G.W.) He was dressed in a suit and sneakers. :o) Now, all politics aside, I really do admire President Bush as a person. Obviously, I didn't get to see him, but I did take a few shots of his ride and the Secret Service. These guys were so cool.


After a long and exhausting week, we headed back to Charleston on Thursday. We had a layover in Atlanta, so Amanda and I found the best seats in the house and watched planes take off into the sunset. Literally.


Overall, I really enjoyed the trip and am thankful that I was able to go to the conference in such a great city. I hated being away from my hubby, but the time apart really made us stronger as a couple. I'm looking forward to vising Louisiana again, but I am so glad to be home.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

another wedding trailer

Hello my fellow bloggers! I hope you guys are enjoying this July morning. (JULY! Can y'all believe it's already July?) I know that I have been seriously slacking with posting about my New Orleans trip, (and posting just in general) but I promise to get on the ball asap! :o)

This week, I finished the wedding movie trailer for my brother/sister-in-law, Stephen and Ivey! They wanted a romantic one so this trailer is going to be very different from the previous one that I posted. With a little bit of time management, I was able to edit a whole lot this week. (This makes me very happy!) If I could, editing would be my full-time job but that's just not in the cards right now. Anywho, I'll stop rambling. Enjoy the trailer!

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